Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says he is impressed with the winning mentality that midfielder Francis Coquelin possesses.
The 23-year-old was enjoying regular first team football at Charlton Athletic before the Frenchman decided to end his loan spell prematurely.
And with a number of midfielders not available through injury, the youngster became a key element in Wenger's midfield.
"He [Francis Coquelin] was not [in my plans at the start of the season]," Wenger told the club's official website.
"I told him to give absolutely everything until Christmas, then we would see together where he was. If you respect that you have done a big part of your job.
"In myself, [I thought] if he doesn't play at Christmas at all, and there's only six months of his contract to go, I [would] let him go somewhere else.
"He wasn't happy when I called him back [from Charlton]. He played there and he thought I just called him back as cover.
"He expected in fact to play against QPR and was not playing and was surprised when I played him against West Ham.
"He knows it's an opportunity for him now.
"Sometimes when you wait for such a long time to get your chance and you get it, the human being is a strange animal - the more you have suffered before, the more you enjoy it.
"On that front I think he has gone through a lot of doubt, questioning himself, certainly at many times being discouraged that he didn't get a chance.
"Now that he has a chance he doesn't want to let it slip away. But he is a winner and he wants to win - that's why he is so committed."
